Rail-clamping device.



'PATENTED DEC. 4, 1906.

4H. ALLEN. RAIL CLAMPING DEVICE.

'Y Ion M R D E L I n...

'/zyeief )Komen UZZZeJ@ L HOSE ALLEN, OF OIL CITY, PENNSYLVANIz RAIL-CLANIPING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

ictented Decf4, 1906- Applicatien filed March 23,1906. Serial No.. 307,634.

Y of the United States, residing at Oil City, in

the county of Venango and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Rail-Clamping Devices, of which the following i's a speciiication.

This invention relates to rail-clamping devices, the object of the invention being to provide an effective article of this character lfor holding the rails in absolute alinement or for holding such rails in true parallelism with other rails, which two series of rails form a track.

A device including the invention involves two or more, usually three, sections, the number of sections depending upon the particular use to which the device is put. When a device is used solely with two abutting rails to hold Ythem in alinement, there will be two of these sections, .while where it is desired to hold said rails in parallel relation with an opposite rail a third section is employed. The number ofthe sections, therefore, is not essential. In connection with the sections I provide a means vfor drawing them firmly together and ofsuch a character that when the device is set the sections thereof cannot be accidentallyseparated, which is an importantconsideration, owing to the jar and shock to which the device is subjected when in use.

` From what has beenalready stated it will be obvious that the clamping device may involve two sections or three sections. The said clamping device may, as also stated, be employed. for holding two rail-sections in alinement or may be utilized for holding one rail in parallelism with the opposite rail. In each of these cases I may employ a clamping device of two sections. When the clamping device composed of two sections holds opposite rails in parallelism, one section of said clamping device may operate direct ly in connectionwith one rail and the opposite clamping device will operate in connection with the opposite rail.

In the drawings accompanying and forming a part ol this specification I show certain advantageous embodiments of the invention,

'v which to enable those skilled in the art to practice said invention I will set forth fully .in

the following description, while the novelty.

of such invention will be included in the claims succeeding said description.

Referring to the drawings, VFigure l is a cross-sectional view of a rail, showing a clamping device in elevation connected therewith, which clamping device isconstructed in accordance with my invention. F ig. -2 is a top plan view of the clamping device shown in the preceding iigure. lfi'g. 3 is aview corresponding to Fig. l and showing apslight modification. f

Like characters refer to like parts throughout the several figures. .y i.

A clamping device involving `niyfi'neltion may be, composed of two or niore:'sec'tions. I'Vhen l. provide more than two of 'these sections, they are generally three number, twobeing on one side of a trackandliis'ually embracing two abutting rails, while af third section is at the opposite side of said track. there only two sect-ions are used, they grip abutting or substantially abutting rails and in this way act somewhat as a chair. In the latter case the device servestofhold the abutting rails in line, while in the otheruse the opposite rails are held in parallelism.

In Figs. land 2, showing the clamping device as composed solely of two sections, these sections fit against abutting rails, as 12, at the joint thereof. The outer section is denoted by 3 and the inner sectionI by el, and said two sections are drawn into clamping engagement with the rails'by a bolt',- asg, of

novel and zulvantageous construction, as will hereinafter appear. As will be, obvious, I might einplowr one section, 3, with one rail and another section, as 4', with in opposite rail and connect theiu togethe;` by 'a' long bolt wnstrueted just exactly like the bhlt The bodies ol the two sections 3 and 4 are of substantially plate form and thevl'iave hooks, as G, along their outer upper sides tol overlie the opposite sides of the bases'lof the rails. The hooks are shown 4as having grooves 7 and S, the lower grooves Tl'being adapted to receive the base or basesof the rails, while the upper grooves S are adapted to receive corresponding portions of dishplates when thc clamping device is used at a joint. vThe sections 3 and i have pendent ears or flanges, each designated byll, on the under sides thereof and located substantially centrally ol the widthol" the `respective parts. The sections 3 and -t are drawn togethcrlby a draft applied-` to the ears 'or ilaiigesutll" By locating these ilanges or ears in the manner set forth there is no tendency to tipthesections when the same are drawn..rt'gethcr. The bolt is shown asghavingnatl one end thereof a head 10. This is sh'o'wnfas".v

on the outer side ofthe rail 2. It may be located-upon the inner side of said rail, in

which case ,the section 3, which I have denominated the fouterf section, will be the in.

ner section'ofthe clamp. This head '10 may be of any desirablecharacter, althoughit is of such a form as to be readily. engaged'by a wre'nch, asquarel shape, as shown, being satisfactory for the purpose. Beyond the head the -holtis inwardly tapered, as at 1'1, and -beyond the tapered' portion said bolt is thread-ed,h as at 12, for' connection 'With-the inner section'4. The tapered portion l1 of the bolt has a bearing or seat' within a plain perforation in the" flange or ear 9 of the outerv section 3. It therefore follows that when the, bolt is turned `to the right 'in the present instance itis given an endwise movement, so

- that said bolt being connected with 'the inner 'which said inner section 4 or` pendent ear 9 vthereof constitutes a nut for the bolt.

'It will be assumed that the parts areassembled. and' that the two sections 3 and 4 thereof have been hooked over abutting rails' .2 and that it is desired to set the clamp.

To do this, the bolt 5 is turned to the right, and as'it is thus turned it is given an endwise movement to bring the two sections 3 and 4 toward each other in the manner'hereinbefore setforth. When these sections are set,

.it is practically impossible to accidentally i loosen them, although they can be freely sep-` arated from the rails by turning the bolt 5 to the left with a wrench. sidesof the two sections 3 and 4 are vertical ridges or ribs, as v13, which engage against the under side of a' rail or rails. These `ridges also adapt the clamping devices to the rails, even where Ythere are imperfections in the bases of thelatter.

In Fig. 3 I have shown a third section, as 4', which cooperates with sections, as 3 and 4. The pendent lug 9 of the section 4 is adapted to receive the threaded end l2 of an `elongated bolt 5. IV ith this exception the construction shown in Fig. 3 is the saine as that shown in Figs. l and 2. lVhen the sections 3 and 4 in l1 ig. 3 are drawn toward each other by the turning of the bolt 5, the section 4 is drawn toward the sections 3 and 4. In some cases I may, if desired, dispense .with the section 4 shown in Fig. 3.

Vhat I claim is- `l. A rail-clamping device involving a plurality of sections and a bolt having a tapered portion and connected with one of the sec- On the upper inner tions, the other having a perforation to receive said tapered portion, the walll` of the` perforation wholly surrounding said tapered portion, and the bolt when turned serving to draw said sections toward each other.

2. A rail-clamping device involving sec@ tions having pendent ears, one of which is in- -pered portion, whereby when the bolt is turned the two sections will be drawn toward each other.l

4. A clamping device comprising a plurality of sections having pendent anges located substantially centrally of the width of the respective sections, one of the flanges being threaded and the other having a plain perforation, and a bolt providedwith an inward ly. tapered portion to enter said plain perforation, said bolt having a threaded portion to .engage the threads of the threaded iiange.

5. A rail-clamping device comprising a plurality of 'sections having vertical ribs on their upper inner sides, and pendent lianges substantially.centrally of the width of their under sides, one of the flanges having an internally-threaded perforation and the other flange having a plain perforation, and a bolt provided with an inwardly-tapered portion to fit the plain perforation and with a threaded portion to engage the threads of said threaded flange.

6. A railclamping device including a plurality of sections, and a tapered bolt for drawing the sections together when the said bolt is turned, the clamping device having an opening the Wall of which entirely surrounds the tapered portion of the bolt and in which said tapered portion is wedged on said turning motion'.

7. A rail-clamping device including a plurality of sections, each composed of a body provided with an upturned hook, and a tapered bolt situated below the v respective bodies, for drawing said sections together when said bolt'is turned. 4

8. A rail-clamping device includingl a plurality of sections and a bolt having a wedge bearing against one of the sections and coperative with the other section, said bolt when turned serving to draw the sections toward each other in a direction corresponding with the longitudinal axis of the bolt.

9. A rail-clamping device including two,

IOO

sections, a tapered bolt for drawing the sections toward veach other a third section separate from the other sections, the bolt having an extension to coperate with the said third section for drawing the latter toward the said two sections When the bolt is turned.

10. A rail-olainping device including two sections, one having a perforation7 a bolt having a tapered portion to be wedged in said perforation, said bolt cooperating with the other section to draw the latter toward the companion Sectionwhen the bolt is turned, and a third section; said bolt having a screwthreaded portion to engage thethird section to draw said thirdlsection toward the other sections when the bolt is turned.

11. A rail-clamping device including two sections, one of which has a perforation and the other a screw-threaded portion, a bolt having a tapered portion to be wedged in Said perforation and having a threaded portion to engage the threaded portion of said section to draw the sections toward each other when the bolt is turned, and a third section having a sc1e\\--tl1readed portion, the bolt having a second threaded portion to engage the 'threaded portion of Said third section to draw the latter toward said ooinpanion section when the bolt is turned.

f 12. A rail-clamping device including a plurality of sections, one of which has an opening, a bolt having a tapered portion extending through and `to be wedged in said opening, the other section being directly screwthreaded and the bolt having a threaded portion to engage the said screw-tlneaded portion to draw the sections toward each other in a direction corresponding with the longitudinal axis of Said bolt when the latter is turned.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing vitnesses.

Hosea ALLEN.

Witnesses:

HEATH SUTHERLAND, CHAS. S. HYER. 

